On self-service you had to run the register - which took all of two minutes to explain. Full service we were expected to carry cash and make change in our head! Picture today's teen youth trying to do that without their smart phones. You learned to stop the pumps or top-off to the the next nearest $0.25 real quick. Hint: you can actually hear the change as the tank is getting full and stop it at a round number just before the pump shuts off automatically.
Oh yeah, back in the day running credit cards was a trip. Ran them through the paper/ink imprinting machine. We literally had a printed book of bad numbers. If someone looked sketchy or gave you a bad feeling you'd take the time to check. (never did come across one)
From those several years experience dealing with the general public I learned almost as much as I did in the college engineering program. I became amazed that some people could feed and clothe themselves without assistance - let along operate a motor vehicle to the station without killing themselves or someone else.
Buck up Oregon. Chances are the kids pumping your gas all these years didn't get any more training than I did. If we can figure it out, so can you.
You have brought back to me many memories, especially of the cute girls and leaning over the windshield to get a better look....
Back in the day, as you describe, imprinting the credit card. I worked at a truck stop in Eugene, OR, pumping diesel into big rigs. When the drivers said they had a card, I was required to call a number in Portland for approval of their card (never did get a bad one).
Pre-approval before fueling a truck was understandable. Even at 1974 prices, 150 gallons of diesel was pricey.
I remember being flashed more than once when I was washing a windshield... great fun working at Frank’s Sunoco! Learned how to take care of my own vehicles as well as how to deal with people.
And Moses was a choir boy back then? ;)